The Most Valuable Lessons We Learned From “Tuesdays With Morrie”

Published October 13, 2023

When a person is dying, more often than not, their perception of life changes; it helps them realize what is important and what is not.

Just like in this memoir, “Tuesdays With Morrie.” The author, Mitch Albom, writes about all the lessons he received from his college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who suffered from a life-threatening disease.

Mitch focused on how Morrie helped him understand life’s most complex problems. As Morrie had told him in the book, “Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what happens to me. Learn with me..” And he did. The author learned a lot of things from his Tuesday visits with Morrie.

Here are the most valuable lessons from the book “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

Quotations From Tuesdays with Morrie

Forgive Not Only Others But Also Yourself

“We need to forgive ourselves. For all the things we didn’t do. All the things we should have done. You can’t get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened.”

Most of us find it hard to forgive others, but we don’t know that it’s even harder to forgive ourselves. We tend to hold grudges in life, and somehow, it is the reason why we can’t entirely be happy.     

In the book “Tuesdays with Morrie,” Morrie taught the author the practice of forgiveness. Not only to others but as well as to himself. We may regret what we did in the past, but not everything is within our control. Not letting go of it won’t change anything, but a better outlook for the future might.

Live Your Life As If It Is Your Last Day

“Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, ‘Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I the person I want to be?’”

Most of the time, we take our chances for granted – the opportunity to spend time with our family, help others, and do what we love.

It’s because most of us think that we always have more time to do the right thing. But the truth is we never know when would be the last time to say goodbye.

Morrie said, “Everyone knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it.”

Although some of us don’t like to think about it, we all know that our hearts will stop beating eventually. So we should give our best and not wait for a particular time to express our love to everyone. The right time is always now.

Stop Chasing The Wrong Things

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others. Devote yourself to your community around you and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

Most people are blinded by money and fame, so they often chase the wrong things. They tend to disregard their family and friends because they think the material things can keep them satisfied.

But for us to find meaning and joy in our lives, we should learn to love not only ourselves but other people as well. Being a part of your community can bring happiness and satisfaction that no amount of money can give you.

(Related: The Simple Formula to a Happy Life)

Do Things Whole-heartedly Without Expecting Something In Return

“Do the kinds of things that come from the heart. When you do, you won’t be dissatisfied. You won’t be envious, and you won’t be longing for somebody else’s things. On the contrary, you’ll be overwhelmed with what comes back.”

The reason why some people feel incomplete and unhappy is that they think only for themselves. Morrie taught us that selflessness and genuinely helping others bring us satisfaction and happiness.

The Only Thing That Dies Is Our Body, Not The Relationship We Have With Others

“As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of the love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on – in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.”

When we die, it’s the body that is only going away, not our relationship with our family, friends, and community. We will be remembered for how we were to them while they were still alive. So the people that we’ve helped, however small it is, we’ll surely leave an unforgettable space in their hearts. 

Be Compassionate and Help Others

“Whites and blacks, Catholics and Protestants, men and women. If we saw each other as more alike, we might be very eager to join in one big human family in this world. And to care about that family the way we care about our own.”

Some people believe that we are all different from each other; that’s why we don’t treat everyone the way we should. We might be unique, but we must accept people who are different. For Morrie, we are always stronger together than if we are divided.

He also said, “Be compassionate and take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, this world would be so much better a place.”

One final lesson that Morrie taught Mitch is to be compassionate and to help others. Morrie believed that our world would be better if we do whatever we can to help someone and look out for each other.

(Related: 50 Acts of Kindness You Can Do Today)

There are many things that Morrie has taught us in this book, “Tuesdays with Morrie.” But he wants us to learn to realize what is important and that spreading compassion and love to the world are the only things that can truly make us happy.

Tuesdays with Morrie Quotes

1. “Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do. Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it. Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others. Don’t assume that it’s too late to get involved.”

– Page 18, Tuesdays with Morrie       

2. “Life is a series of pulls back and forth… A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. Most of us live somewhere in the middle. A wrestling match…Which side wins? Love wins. Love always wins.”

– Page 40, Tuesdays with Morrie

3. “Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We’re teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it. Create your own. Most people can’t do it.”

– Page 35, Tuesdays with Morrie

4. “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and to let it come in.”

– Page 52, Tuesdays with Morrie

5. Without love, we are birds with broken wings.”

– Page 92, Tuesdays with Morrie